Local nasal immunotherapy with extract in powder form is effective and safe in grass pollen rhinitis: a double-blind study.

Background: Local nasal immunotherapy has been studied, by means of an extract in powder form, in patients with allergic rhinitis caused by grass pollen.

Methods: Thirty-two patients allergic to grass were studied for 37 weeks in a double-blind controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive history, skin test result, RAST finding, and result of intranasal challenge to grass pollen.

Local nasal immunotherapy for birch allergic rhinitis with extract in powder form.

Background: Traditional subcutaneous immunotherapy has been proved effective in birch pollenosis. It has, however, some drawbacks as systemic reactions, which are rare but important. Local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) represents a potential safer route of allergen administration.

Tolerability of nimesulide in aspirin-sensitive patients.

In most patients with aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) intolerance, antiinflammatory treatment is a clinical problem. In this study we evaluated the tolerance to a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, nimesulide (Aulin, Boehringer Mannheim, Italia), in 429 patients presenting with clear histories of intolerance to NSAIDs. Nimesulide has been chosen due to its weak inhibitory action on cyclooxygenase and its peculiar mechanism of action.

Pituitary-adrenal function in asthmatic patients treated with high dose of beclomethasone.

Ten asthmatic patients receiving long term treatment with high dose of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) (750 to 2,250 micrograms/die, average 1,400 +/- 474 micrograms) underwent evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis under basal conditions (serum cortisol and ACTH levels at 8.00 AM and 8.00 PM, 24-hours free urinary cortisol) and by means of pharmacological tests (short tetracosactide and Corticotrophin Releasing Factor Tests).

A comparison of the efficacy of cetirizine and terfenadine. A double-blind, controlled study of chronic idiopathic urticaria.

In a 20-d, double-blind, randomized, parallel study, the efficacy of cetirizine and terfenadine was compared in 30 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. Subjects were randomly divided into two 15-patient groups. The first group was given cetirizine (10 mg once daily); the second terfenadine (60 mg twice daily).

Local nasal immunotherapy for Dermatophagoides-induced rhinitis: efficacy of a powder extract.

Background: Local nasal immunotherapy by means of an extract in "macronized" powder from was studied in allergic rhinitis to Dermatophagoides species.

Methods: Twenty-four Dermatophagoides-sensitive patients were studied for 12 months in a double-blind controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive history, skin test, radioallergosorbent test, and intranasal challenge to Dermatophagoides antigen.

Combined treatment of allergic rhinitis with terfenadine and nimesulide, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug.

Thirty patient with allergic rhinitis sensitized to Parietaria pollen were enrolled in a double-blind clinical trial in order to evaluate whether the addition of nimesulide, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, to standard antihistamine therapy may improve symptom relief. Patients were randomly divided in two groups: one was given terfenadine (120 mg/day) and nimesulide (200 mg/day), the other was given terfenadine (120 mg/day) and placebo. Both treatments lasted 30 days.

Local nasal immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis to Parietaria. A double-blind controlled study.

Preseasonal local nasal immunotherapy (LNIT) by means of an extract in macronized powder form has been studied in allergic rhinitis to parietaria. Twenty-four Parietaria-sensitive patients have been studied for 18 weeks in a double-blind controlled trial. Subjects were selected on the basis of a positive skin test, RAST and intranasal challenge to Parietaria antigen.